Today was day one of my betting project and it was eventful to say the least.

First, the background stuff: As I noted in my latest video, when I initially started Databasebetting.com, it was with the intent of selling my betting reports. Sure, I was going to wager myself too, but that was a secondary objective.

Well, as I got deeper and deeper into the research, a strange thing happened: I discovered a part of me that I thought was lost. I know, I know — that sounds awfully dramatic, especially for a guy whose website emphasizes “figures, not feelings.” However, I freely admit that after realizing my love of horseracing had waned, I felt a little lost, like a meaningful connection to my past had been severed.

My passion was gone.

But guzzling Bang energy drinks and doing database studies deep into the night and early morning reignited that passion and I remembered why I fell in love with horseracing in the first place — the mystery. It was always about solving the mystery.

Now, I am not so naïve as to think there is a single “key” to successful wagering, but I do believe that one can make money betting sports in a methodical manner. I rejected then — and still do today — the notion that one needs windfall scores to make a go of it. I eschewed the idea then — and still do today — that betting for a living need be the roller coaster ride that Andrew Beyer described in his book “My $50,000 Year at the Races.”

And I realized that my studies could give me the chance to prove that… or not (that’s what we’re going to find out).

So, without further ado, here are the details: I’m starting with a bankroll of — are you sitting down? — $499.99.

Again, I want to demonstrate that one can begin with a small stake… plus, I’m poor.

Of course, the only betting sport going on right now outside of e-sports — can you believe I saw wagering offered on old Madden games at a well-known sportsbook? — is horse racing, so that’s where all my action was.

Five tracks were running and I had bets at three of them, including a four-star play at Oaklawn Park (unfortunately, I had two plays in that race, which I hate, as it makes the betting really difficult).

The four-star play (four percent of capital) lost — it finished second (the other pick in that race folded like… well, something that folds really easily). But it’s the last race I wagered on that I want to talk about.

The fourth race at Remington Park was the PSBA American Paint Derby for three-year-olds. Surprisingly, the field featured four female entries and just three males… but one of those males — Southern Electric — had won 10 off his 13 lifetime races and was 1-9 in the betting.

To me, he was a deserving favorite, but betting a 1-9 shot is akin to running across the highway to pick up a stray dime. All of my computerized reports were pegging the filly, Moonpiebywire, at about 8-1 and one of them — my Win Rating Method, which features an all-encompassing rating that evaluates overall ability and a myriad of other factors — made her a play to win and place.

So, that’s what I did. And just for good measure I bet an exacta box on Southern Electric and Moonpiebywire (I also placed a conditional bet on Southern Electric at 4-1, because one of my reports demanded it, but, obviously, I knew that such a price was not at all likely.)

In the race, Southern Electric won by about a half-length; Moonpiebywire was second at 21-1… but there was an inquiry. During the 400-yard dash, Southern Electric had drifted out badly, impeding Moonpiebywire.

I don’t think the subsequent disqualification was justified… but I didn’t complain.